TC Jewfolk’s Holiday Guide for the Twin Cities

Jump To: The Omer | The Yomim | Shavuot

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The Omer

We count the Omer for 49 days, starting on the second night of Pesach/Passover and ending with Shavuot. In 2024/5784 the Omer period begins the evening of Tuesday, April 23 and concludes Tuesday, June 11 before sunset.

Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer, falls from sundown Saturday, May 25 – sundown Sunday, May 26.

About This Holiday

© The Jewish Museum, New York

About the Omer & How to Count the Omer (My Jewish Learning)

Counting the Omer (Exploring Judaism)

Lag B’Omer (Reform Judaism)

Sefirat HaOmer (Chabad)

Classes & Events

Events listed at Central Time and are on Zoom if no location is noted. Submit an event here.

Awareness in Action for the Omer: Cultivating Character Through Mindfulness and Middot (Adath Jeshurun & Jewish Institute for Spirituality) 2 p.m. Wednesdays April 10, 17, May 1 – June 5 & Tuesday, June 11. $199-399

Omer Art for the Heart (Hineni) 10 a.m. Sunday, April 28 – June 9. Studio Inside Out (4827 Minnetonka Blvd., St Louis Park). $210

The Omer: A Modern Take on a Medieval Self-Growth Practice based on an Ancient Harvest Season (Shir Tikvah) 8:45 p.m. Tuesdays April 30 & May 7; 9 p.m. May 14 & 21; 9:15 p.m. May 28 & June 4

Lag B’Omer Campfire (Moishe Pod Twin Cities – Young Families) 5 p.m. Thursday, May 23. RSVP for location

Lag B’Omer Shabbat BBQ (Chabad YJP) 7 p.m. Friday, May 24. Chabad Uptown (3017 James Ave S, Minneapolis) $18

Self-Guided Practices

49 Steps (Limmud North America)

7 Minutes: A Daily Omer Wellness Practice (Mitsui Collective)

My Omer: 49 Steps to Personal Refinement (Meaningful Life Center)

The Omer Workbook: A 49 Day Self-Care Immersion (Gold Herring)

P.O.P., the Pandemic Omer Project (MN JCC & JCreate)

Further Resources & Tools

Lag B’Omer & Sefirat Ha’Omer Source Sheets (Sefaria)

Omer Ceremonies, Poems, Songs & more (Ritualwell)

What is the Lag BaOmer pilgrimage? (The Conversation) 

Writing & Videos on The Omer/Lag B’Omer (The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust)

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The Yomim

“The Yomim” (plural of “yom,” or days) are a closely-bunched group of modern spring holidays that fall in the weeks after Passover.

Yom HaShoah—which commemorates approximately six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, and the Jewish resistance in that period—is on 27 Nisan, or sunset May 5 – sunset May 6 in 2024/5784.

Yom HaZikaron—Israel’s official remembrance day, traditionally dedicated to fallen soldiers, also extended to civilian victims of terrorism—is on 4 Iyar, or sunset May 12 – sunset May 13 in 2024/5784.

Yom HaAtzmaut—commemorating the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948—is on 5 Iyar, corresponding to sunset May 13 – sunset May 14 in 2024/5784.

Yom Yerushalayim—commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem and the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City in the aftermath of the June 1967 Six-Day War—is on 28 Iyar, from sunset June 4 – sunset June 5 in 2024/5784.

About These Holidays

Yom Hazikaron: Israel’s Memorial Day | Yom Ha’atzmaut: Israel Independence Day | Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day (My Jewish Learning)

Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikkaron, Yom Haatzma’ut, and Yom Yerushalayim (Exploring Judaism)

Yom HaShoah | Yom HaZikaron & Yom HaAtzmaut (Reform Judaism)

Events

Events listed at Central Time and are on Zoom if no location is noted. Submit an event here.

Transitioning from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Temple of Aaron) 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 13. Temple of Aaron (616 Mississippi River Blvd, St Paul)

Yom Ha’Atzmaut Breakfast (Beth Jacob) 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 14. Beth Jacob Congregation (1179 VIctoria Curve, Mendota Heights)

Reunited and It Feels So Good (MN Jewish Genealogical Society) 1 p.m. Sunday, May 19

Yom Ha’atzmaut: We Will Dance Again (Minnesota JCC) 2 p.m. Sunday, May 19. Sabes Center Minneapolis (4330 S. Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park)

An Evening with Noa Tishby (Beth El) 7 p.m. Monday, May 20. Beth El Synagogue (5225 Barry St W, St Louis Park)

Further Resources & Tools

Yom HaShoah Articles (My Jewish Learning)

Articles on Yom HaShoah | Yom HaZikaron | Yom HaAtzmaut | Yom Yerushalayim (Orthodox Union)

Ritual Components for Yom HaShoah | Yom HaZikaron | Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Ritualwell)

Writing & Videos on Yom HaShoah | Yom HaZikaron | Yom Ha’atzmaut | Yom Yerushalayim (Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust)

Articles on Yom Ha-atzmaut (Rabbinical Assembly)

Yom Ha’atzmaut with Children (PJ Library)

Yom HaAtzmautYom Yerushalayim Source Sheets (Sefaria)

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Shavuot

This year, Shavuot is sundown Saturday, June 11 – sundown Sunday, June 12.

About This Holiday

Shavuot (Chabad)

Shavuot (Exploring Judaism)

Shavuot (Reform Judaism)

Shavuot (My Jewish Learning)

Events

All events listed at Central Time and are on Zoom if no location is noted. Submit an event here.

Solo Judaism Presents: Shavuot 2024, Choosing to Receive Torah (Modern JewISH Couples) 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 4

Tikkun Leil Shavuot Options

Further Resources & Tools

Family activities for Sivan (TALI Education)

Shavuot poetry, blogs, rituals, & more (Ritualwell)

Shavuot source sheets (Sefaria)

Shavuot sustainability resources (Hazon)

Shavuot resources (Judaism Unbound)

Shavuot resources (Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust)

Shavuot with kids (PJ Library)

Recipes

Blintz SouffléBlueberry Balsamic Ice Cream | Syrian Cheese Sambusak, Israeli Bourekas & Israeli Cheesecake (TC Jewfolk)

Shavuot Recipes (Rebekah Lowin)

Shavuot Food (The Nosher)

Soul Food for Shavuot (Be’chol Lashon)

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